Apple launches iPhone trade-ins

Apple's New York City Upper West Side retail store.

(Credit: Apple)

Apple has begun a long-awaited iPhone trade-in program at its retail stores, ahead of an event that is widely expected to include the unveiling of the new iPhone on September 10.

Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette told CNET that the program launched Friday in Apple's US stores only. "iPhones hold great value," she said. "Customers will be able to receive a credit for their returned phone that they can use toward the purchase of a new iPhone."

She couldn't comment on a range of values Apple would ascribe to phones its customers swap for credit. CNBC said the service would give customers a trade-in value for the handset estimated at $125 for an iPhone 4, $200 for an iPhone 4S, and $250 for an iPhone 5 -- with a fresh contract. An unnamed source told The Wall Street Journal that the most Apple would be willing to credit customers would be about $280. ABC reported a figure closer to $300, also according to an unnamed source.

With Apple on the sidelines of the iPhone aftermarket for years, other trade-in options have cropped up to meet the need -- sometimes at values much higher than those being reported for an Apple program. People who want to ditch their phone when a new one comes along, without eating the full cost, found other companies willing to welcome them with open arms.

Devices traded in on sites like Gazelle and NextWorth are sold internationally in places where iPhones are very expensive. Right now, a 64GB iPhone 5 can snag a customer $370 on NextWorth.

Retailers like Best Buy and Target also offer trade-in options when new phones emerge, in addition to discounts -- like a deal this weekend at Best Buy giving iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S owners who trade in a working handset at least 50 percent off the purchase of an iPhone 5.

And, of course, there's always eBay.

With more lucrative options available, the biggest draw for an Apple program is convenience for people who buy directly through the computer maker, especially those who line up for days to be among the first to get hold of the latest iPhone.

Word of such a service cropped up in June, when Bloomberg reported that Apple was working with Miami-based trade-in company Brightstar on a program that would let consumers bring in their used iPhones for a discount on newer models and potentially for credit on other items in Apple's stores.

Next month's Apple event has the rumor mill churning out speculation at top speed, but the computer maker is generally expected to be introducing a high-end flagship iPhone, called the iPhone 5S, along with a lower-cost option, called the iPhone 5C.

Reports Monday indicated the company was close to firing up a trade-in service for its flagship smartphone. Apple was said to be preparing retail workers, giving first trainers their instructions Monday for them to start teaching other employees, and may have even started piloting the program in some stores.

Google plunges deeper into smartwatch wars with WIMM

(Credit: Sarah Tews/CNET)

Google, oft rumored to be working on a smartwatch, quietly bought WIMM Labs last year to light a fire under the effort.

A Google spokeswoman confirmed to CNET that Google has acquired smartwatch maker WIMM. The takeover was first reported by GigaOm.

Smartwatch maker WIMM went dark last year, posting a cryptic thank-you message on its Web site citing "an exclusive, confidential relationship" for its technology.

Similar to previous reports of a coming Google smartwatch, the latest says the company has the work on the product -- including WIMM's employees -- centered in the Android unit, rather than its X Lab. That could mean a Google watch comes to market faster than the wearable Google has been trumpeting all year, Google Glass, which was a product of X Lab.

Though upstart tech companies have already introduced a slew of watches, giants are lumbering into the field too. Samsung is expected to unveil a smartwatch on September 4 calledGalaxy Gear, and Apple has been rumored to be coming out with one.

Pressy Adds A Physical Multi-Function Button To Android Devices [VIDEO]

Kickstarter often throws up some intriguing products, particularly of the tech variety, but seldom do we see the kind of buzz and excitement around a start-up project than with Pressy,an Android-targeting peripheral recently launched on the site. With the initial goal already met five times over in the first two days alone, it’s fair to say that this tiny device has the potential to become something huge, and if you read on, you’ll find out just why.

Kickstarter serves the tech community well. The go-to hub for start-ups looking for investment, we’ve seen swathes of great tech products manifest from the site, including the immensely popular Pebble Smartwatch. Like Pebble, which attracted tens of thousands of the Kickstarter community’s geek-minded individuals, Pressy has exceeded even the wildest expectations of those behind it.

So, what’s it all about? Well, in our constant quest to cut as many digital corners as possible, the idea stems from a small device plugged into the headphone jack of an Android smartphone, leaving a small button atop. This button is no ordinary button, for the Pressy companion app can then be tweaked to perform certain actions, depending on the sequence of button presses. So, for example, if you wanted to take a photo, you could set the Pressy app to take a snap with two short presses – you wouldn’t even need to activate your device in any way.

The idea is incredibly simple, but also genius, and with so many different actions performable and varying combinations of short and long presses, it’s no wonder its inventors have already raised nearly one quarter of a million dollars with 45 days still to go.

The device is so small that it is barely noticeable when clipped into a holder, which can, in turn, be readily attached to a keyring.

But the bit we love most about Pressy, is that when the headphone jack is not vacant – i.e., you need to use it to listen to music – you can use the button of the remote to continue using Pressy with minimal fuss!

Of all the Kickstarter projects we’ve covered here at Redmond Pie, Pressy is easily one of the most intuitive, and if you still remain unconvinced, check out the video below.

The great thing about Pressy is that it is extremely inexpensive, so if you want to get involved and own the product yourself when it ships early next year, be sure to check it out by heading on down to the Kickstarter page here.

Three UK Removes International Roaming Charges In 7 Countries

Three UK has announced a new initiative to offer customers the same mobile service when travelling abroad to a number of countries, meaning those venturing out to Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy or Sweden can continue using their data, call and SMS allowances as if they were back in Britain. With roaming charges often bordering extortionate, this is definitely a win for the consumer, and hopefully, those days of unexpectedly high bills – often well into the hundreds after a short break away – will be no more.

Yesterday, Three UK announced plans to offer its customers the same great packages as currently available when it begins rolling out its 4G network later on this year. With so many companies trying to use LTE as a reason to charge consumers considerably more, the movement was seen as a breath of fresh air, and the separate announcement earlier today regarding usage abroad brings even more good news.

For too long, providers have been charging substantially high prices for even minimal data usage abroad, and often, vacations have been ruined by the bill awaiting them back at home.

Three has, for quite a while, been very liberal when it comes to data allowances, and is one of a dying breed of providers offering truly unlimited data. But with the news of 4G simply being “switched on” to those with compliant devices at no extra cost as of December, this effort to end those data roaming charges is likely to yield the company many more fans.

As a Three customer myself, I was just coming to terms with the fact that joining the 4G parade wouldn’t mean selling my car, but this news, particularly for those planning to travel soon, is every bit as good.

There are one or two, shall we say, terms attached, but nothing that really sours the deal. For example, calls to non-UK numbers will still incur roaming fees, but then, they do anyway, right? Also, tethering is off the agenda completely, which is a bit of a shame; but hey, you can’t haveeverything!

So, if you don’t want to spend half of your holiday / business trip traipsing around looking for Wi-Fi hotspots, Three has you covered, and hopefully (not that we’re trying to push our luck or anything), more countries will be added in the future.

New Shots Of iPhone 5C Packaging Surface Online

The iPhone 5C, Apple’s first attempt at offering a budget device, is expected to be unveiled alongside the new flagship iPhone 5S at a special event to be held on September 10th, and we’ve seen many leaks and sightings of the polycarbonate-enclosed handset already. But today, via French blog Nowhererlse, an image has emerged of what is claimed to be the device packaged in its retail casing ahead of shipment.

Of course, this cannot be verified in any way, but Nowhereelse does have a pretty strong track record when it comes to accurate leaks. Moreover, if the device is, as expected, to be launched on September 10th with release shortly thereafter, Apple will already have prepared many batches of units ready for distribution, so the timing in particular gives a little legitimacy to this leak.

Then again, it does make us suspicious that the standard of camera used is below even what a mid-range smartphone is capable of churning out, and one would expect anybody with such an exclusive shot to share with the world could get a hold of a decent snapper. Also, with the same image leaking all over the Interwebs showing different colored devices, we’re inclined to think this one’s a fake, and in all honesty, not a very good one, just like the previous iPhone 5C packaging one.

Still, the iPhone 5C looks all set to take the industry by storm, and as well as being built for the purpose of helping Apple capitalize on the lucrative markets in developing nations like India and China, the device will also see the Cupertino’s brand of smartphone appeal to a wider audience in the likes of the US, UK and much of Europe.

September 10th is the unofficially confirmed date of the announcement, and with less than two weeks to go, it won’t be too long before we can put the rumors to bed and finally get down to checking out the new models. The iPhone 5C is expected to offer five different colors, while the iPhone 5S, successor to the iPhone 5, gets the most attention, with a reported 12-megapixel camera, 128GB storage option, and the confirmed addition of the champagne gold color configuration.

We’ll keep you posted on any new developments, so stay tuned!

(Source: Nowhereelse.fr [Google Translate])

You may also like to check out:

• iPhone 5S And iPhone 5C Release Date Set For September 10th Announcement

PlayStation 4 Features Cooler Smartphone Integration Than We Originally Thought

The PlayStation 4 is one of the most sought-after gadgets of the year. In fact, alongside the Xbox One, it’s one of the most eagerly anticipated machines to have released in the past five years, and while we already knew a great deal about the console thanks to numerous insights from Sony, we’re still now only learning about some of the new features.

We already know of the PS4′s smartphone integration, but we certainly yet fully versed with the ins and outs of how everything will work upon release. This was confirmed earlier on today on Twitter by a rather nonchalant reply to a gaming fan from Sony’s President of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida, which revealed that when a game is downloaded via a user’s handset, the PlayStation 4 will automatically fire itself up, download the game, and drift back off to sleep again. Awesome? We certainly think so.

Microsoft has its own integration with SmartGlass, but of what we’ve seen and heard about so far, this feature from Sony has to be one of the best and most useful features as our consoles join forces with what has become – more so than since the last round of console releases – our most treasured gadget.

If, for example, you’re on a train, half an hour away from home, and happen to read of a new game’s release online, you could start the download there and then. By the time you get home, the game would be ready to play even if your console was asleep when you left initially.

As we draw ever closer to November 15th, the PS4 release date, I’m sure we’ll continue to learn new and exciting tidbits about the PlayStation 4. There’s still no precise word on when its fiercest rival, the Xbox One, will rear its head, but as both Sony and Microsoft continue the battle of oneupmanship, one wouldn’t be too shocked or surprised if the Redmond company tried to outfox its competitor by dropping in marginally earlier. In fact, my money’s on Microsoft doing what it did last time around with the 360, and hitting the market first.

Whatever the case may be, you’ll catch all of the best console news and info right here atRedmond Pie, so stay tuned!

(Source: Twitter [Shuhei Yoshida])

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• PS4 Release Date For North America And Europe Announced

This App Lets You Push Files Between Your Mac And iPhone In A Breeze

iOS and OS X are becoming more and more similar with every new version. OS X received a generous dose of “iOS-ification” last year with Mountain Lion, which saw a plethora of mobile features, such as Reminders, iMessage and Notification Center, make their way to the desktop. And seeing as iOS is still very much OS X’s apprentice, apps like Safari are modeled on the main versions built for the Mac range. But while these two ecosystems are slowly becoming as one, communication between the two is still very much a strained affair. However, DeskConnect, a new app for iOS, helps make the sharing of information between the two as effortless as possible, and if you’re looking for something to draw your two favorite gadgets even closer together, it’s well worth a look.
The app lets you easily move your favorite documents, images, Web pages, and other such content from one to the other, and once you’ve gone through the set-up process, both your iPhone and Mac will operate almost like extensions of one another.

The app, from the OS X side, is little more than a menu bar on your desktop, and with a simple click (or by setting a keyboard shortcut), you can send information right to your device. Unlike many file transfer apps, which offer you bog-standard drag-and-drop, DeskConnect seems to have a basic grasp of why you’re transferring something, and acts accordingly. If, for example, you send a website over to your iPhone, it will automatically open a webpage, and if you’re not a fan of the default Safari (a dying breed, it has to be said), then you can readily use DeskConnect to initiate Chrome, Dolphin, or whichever other browsers you care to use.

The theme of not forcing the user to roll with stock apps works for sending files to the Mac as well. If you wish to transfer a video from your iPhone to your MacBook, for example, you can do so from any app you have on your home screen, not just the native Photos and Videos apps.

The interface, while not overwhelming, is neat, tidy and minimalistic, so if you’re looking for a simple, seamless way to send files between iPhone and Mac, it’s worth checking out. Point your browser to: deskconnect.com for more information.
Oh, and it’s free of charge!
(Download: DeskConnect for iPhone on the App Store)
Be sure to check out our iPhone Apps Gallery and iPad Apps Gallery to explore more apps for your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

iOS 7 Beta Has Apparently Been Jailbroken [IMAGE]

The Evad3rs team brought some respite late last year with the release of the Evasi0n jailbreak tool, and now a screenshot posted by seasoned developer Ryan Petrich suggests the road to a jailbreak on iOS 7 may not be so treacherous. No details were associated with his screen cap posted on Twitter yesterday of jailbroken iOS 7 beta running on iPod touch 5, but even at this very early stage, things do look very promising indeed.

With each new version of iOS, the road to a jailbreak has been testing at times, and the days of untethered breaks being ready and waiting by the time the official release came around seeming long gone.

Since the release of the initial iOS 7 beta, most of the focus has been on the changes Apple has gone ahead and made. The whole user interface has been completely revamped, and while this has appeased those who were becoming disillusioned with the monotony, there has been a tidal wave of a backlash from those who’ve felt the significant alteration was less than necessary.

Amid the hype, the word jailbreak has scarcely been mentioned, but with Petrich having now set the ball rolling, it will be very interesting to see if and when the end user release of iOS 7 gets a jailbreak. Although Petrich himself is better known for tweaking rather than hacking, having developed popular tweaks such as Activator, we certainly wouldn’t put it past him to take part in early testing of next jailbreak.

So, while information is at a premium at the moment, the take-home from this is that iOS 7 is jailbreakable, at least in its current form. With Apple set to reel off several betas between now and the Fall release of iOS 7, this could well change, but provided Petrich and those with access to this jailbreak keep things under wraps for now, it would seem unlikely that Apple would be able to source and subsequently patch the exploits used.

Cydia tweak Activator running on jailbroken iPod touch 5 running iOS 7 Beta.

With Apple having essentially nullified some of the major tweaks with new implementations to iOS 7, one has to wonder whether the demand for a jailbreak will be as high as before. But whatever the case may be, we’ll have all your iOS 7 jailbreak news right here at Redmond Pie, so stay tuned!

(source: Twitter)

Untethered iOS 6.1.3 Jailbreak Found, Needs Some Work

Back when the Evad3rs team came through with the untethered jailbreak for iOS devices up to and including iOS 6.1.x, it was later stated by those behind it that a jailbreak for iOS 6.1.3 would not be pursued because exploits would instead be saved for the more pressing issue of iOS 7. This hasn’t stopped other well-known developers from trying to find a solution, and developer Winocm has just thrown out a tweet suggesting he is getting there.

In a move that will certainly get the hopes up of Cydia worshippers stuck on unjailbreakable firmware, he noted that he has a binary that untethers 6.1.3, but added that it "needs some more work."

At this point, it would seem this jailbreak is only applicable to the A4 powered devices but for those who had all-but lost hope of a untethered jailbreak on iOS 6.1.3, this could offer light at the end of the tunnel.

@Winocm: (Before you all go out and think I’m magically supporting all devices, the iPhone 4 GSM version barely works. And it’s the only one I made.)

It is also important to note that it is not applicable to iOS 7 betas:

@Winocm: It’s not useful on iOS 7. I don’t care about iOS 7. Other people are taking care of iOS 7.

With newer models famously tougher to crack as Apple continues to step up its fight against the exploits, those wielding devices on A5+ processors will probably have to sit this one out. We’re saying probably, because details are scarce at this moment in time.

There already happens to be a tethered jailbreak iOS 6.1.3, but since it’s limited to A4 devices and, more importantly, a tethered release requiring reconnection to a computer every time the device is rebooted or switched off, it’s not ideal.

Of course, with iOS 7 now looming, much of the jailbreak community is turning its attention towards the new firmware, and whether it will be hackable to the same extent as previously seen with Evasi0n et al. One hopes, given the snippets we’ve already seen of a flattened Cydia interface concept, that we’ll get the chance to experience the real thing, and although Apple has, to its credit, offered much more functionality to the table with Control Center and an extension of the Folders system with iOS 7, jailbreakers will always seek that added freedom of running unsolicited content.

In the meantime, we’ll be sure to keep you guys updated on any information pertaining theiOS 6.1.3 jailbreak, even if it is only specific to older models. It is quite late in the day given the aforementioned introduction of iOS 7, but if an untethered break can be achieved, it’ll certainly be no less welcome.

*Jailbreak iOS 7 Beta On iPod touch 5 Apparently Achieved [IMAGE]
*Jailbreak iOS 6 Untethered With Evasi0n [Windows / Mac / Linux]

Jailbreak iOS 6 Untethered With Evasi0n [Windows / Mac / Linux]

Those looking to jailbreak their iOS devices can rejoice, since a new tool named Evasi0n has just been released by the Evad3rs team which allows for an iOS 6.1 untethered jailbreak on almost all of the devices.

Team Evad3rs was established earlier this year, combines some of the jailbreak community’s most talented developers: Nikias Bassen (Pimskeks), Planetbeing (David Wang), France-based Pod2g (Cyril) and Los Angeles-based MuscleNerd; all known for producing reliable jailbreaks in the past. This team was assembled in order to develop a reliable untethered jailbreak for iOS 6 for post-A5 devices, including the iPhone 5, the iPad mini and the latest-generation iPad. This has now been achieved with the just-released userland jailbreak tool, known as Evasi0n.

The following devices are supported by this tool:

• iPhone 5
• iPhone 4S
• iPhone 4
• iPhone 3GS
• iPad 4
• iPad 3
• iPad 2
• iPad mini
• iPod touch 4
• iPod touch 5

iOS firmware versions supported by Evasi0n:

• iOS 6.0
• iOS 6.0.1
• iOS 6.0.2
• iOS 6.1

Out of all new iOS devices, only the Apple TV 3 is not currently supported, although here’s to hope that a new tool will be developed soon that supports it.

This tool is quite user friendly, yet we remind users not to update their devices over the air (OTA): instead download the latest iOS 6.1 firmware and update to it via iTunes or the standalone ISPW – to take full advantage of all the new features of iOS 6.1 with added benefits of jailbreak.

It was quite a wait, but hopefully iPhone 5 users, as well as owners of previous iOS devices, will be able to customize their iOS setup to their liking, all thanks to Evasi0n jailbreak. We will be posting full how-to tutorials shortly, stay tuned for that!

iOS 6 was originally released in September of last year, featuring many improvements to Apple’s mobile operating system, including a radically revamped Maps app, Facebook integration built into most of its apps, along with improvements to Siri, Mail and other built-in apps. Given the release of iOS 6.1 on the horizon for quite a few months now, developers were put off developing a jailbreak for iOS 6 until 6.1 was finally released last Monday.

Download iOS 6.1 for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch 

Download Evasi0n for Windows 

Download Evasi0n for Mac 

Download Evasi0n for Linux

UPDATE x1: We have posted our full-how to video tutorial on jailbreak iOS 6.1, check it out!

UPDATE x2: Evasi0n 1.1 has been released. Includes fix for Weather app crashing and long reboot times. If you have already jailbroken your device, you don’t need to jailbreak again. Just install the fixes from Cydia. Download links above have been updated with v1.1 links.

Xbox LIVE Marketplace Rebranded To Xbox Games Store

As products and services evolve, the branding is often reviewed by the provider in order to reflect changes. We saw a similar thing a couple of years ago when the Android Market was renamed to the Google Play Store, and as of today, Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE Marketplace is now known as the Xbox Games Store.

With the new Xbox One on the horizon, Microsoft’s model of selling games is changing, with all titles released for the console also being made available online for download. Thus, the switch to Xbox Games Store would seem more than suitable, helping consumers to adjust to the idea that games are a commodity that can be downloaded, and not just picked up from retail outlets.

The Marketplace has been a hub for all kinds of content over the years of Xbox LIVE’s existence, but with the Redmond now having dissected it up into the Xbox Video Store and Xbox Music Store, the Xbox Games Store is seemingly the last piece of the jigsaw.

The term marketplace was also removed from Windows Phone’s sales hub, with "store" seeming a more appropriate buzz-word for all companies, not just Microsoft.

With the name change now official, we eagerly await the point at which the Xbox One games begin to fill the Games Store. Every title released for the next-gen console will be available to download, although some of the more popular titles will also continue to sell at their usual outlets.

Certainly, the separation will also help consumers find the content they want a lot quicker, which is never a bad thing, and with pre-orders of the Xbox One gathering steam, Microsoft has set out to ensure those adopters have as few teething issues as possible.

As well as the rebrand, the software maker has also recently switched to real-world currency in favor of Microsoft Points, and with that process having passed in seemingly painless fashion, the stage is now well and truly set for the next-gen machine.

With the general feeling of excitement for the Xbox One, the ending of the Xbox LIVE Marketplace after eight long years doesn’t seem particularly sentimental, and with the Games Store in place, let’s hope Microsoft puts us out of our misery and comes through with an official release date for its upcoming console.

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• Xbox One Launch Day Game Titles Announced, Here’s The Complete List

iPhone Trade-In Program Begins Today At Apple Retail Stores

We first heard a few days back that Apple would begin an iPhone trade-in program around the time of the release of the next-gen handsets, a move designed to boost general sales of the device from the company’s own retail stores rather than partners. Today, the service has come into full effect and now, consumers will be able to trade-in their old devices in part-exchange for a gleaming new handset.

Of course, there is, as ever, a catch. The consumer must agree to a two-year contract as part of the "iPhone Reuse and Recycling Program," so whatever your current iPhone is deemed worth in credit can be used against your new contract.

Some might argue that the better option would be to sell to eBay, Craigslist, or any other such site, and then simply use the money to go out and purchase a new device. But with the time-consuming nature of doing business of strangers, as well as the potential risks involved, Apple’s iPhone Reuse and Recycling Program will certainly appeal to those looking to grab a new iPhone quickly.

Of course, it almost goes without saying that if you do wish to grab a new iPhone, you’re certainly better off waiting for a couple of weeks to a month, by which time we expect to see the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C announced and released. But hey, if you’re not too fussy about owning the latest model and simply feel that your device is becoming antiquated, then you can head over to your local Apple Retail Store as of now and trade in for a new one.

Apple really seems to be pushing for stronger performances from its iconic retail stores, and this program, it is hoped, will be part of a wider effort to boost the general output. Apple’s partners continue to sell considerably more iPhones in physical stores than Apple does, and CEO Tim Cook seems in no mood to let this continue.

We expect the new iPhones to be announced on September 10th, so make sure you stay tuned to our coverage here at Redmond Pie for all of your iPhone-related news and info!

(Source: Twitter)

You may also like to check out:

• iPhone 5S And iPhone 5C Release Date Set For September 10th Announcement

Moto X Durability Tested To The Extreme With Hammer And Knife Scratch Test [VIDEO]

The Moto X has gotten the smartphone industry just a little bit excited, no less because it’s the first real collaborative effort between Google and Motorola since the search giant stumped up a whopping $12 billion to acquire its new subsidiary. The range of features, the (almost) pure Android experience, and the seemingly unlimited customization of the device’s aesthetics have made it a real talking point, but since it has only been released in the United States, not many have yet been able to get their hands on it. To see how it copes with wear and tear, the guys at Phone Buff have given the device the hammer and knife treatment, and although not perhaps the kind of instruments any smartphone will encounter frequently, responsible shoppers will definitely want to check to see how the Moto X copes when put to the sword.

The video starts innocuously enough, with a key run across the display in an attempt to force some scratches. While you probably won’t be taking any mallets or knives to your beloved handset, the key is a more realistic test, since many of us place a smartphone in our pockets next to keys. In times passed, this would prove the undoing of any display’s out-of-the-box smoothness, but as seen in the video, the front of the Moto X comes through virtually unscathed.

The rear of the device did pick up some scuffs when keyed, but this is to be expected, and with most fascias and covers offering protection to the back of any mobile device, an investment in a protective shell should help you keep your own Moto X in mint condition.

The display managed to withstand the commentator’s slasher movie impressions, but the chamfered edges suffered heavily, as one might expect. The way many smartphones are designed nowadays means that it can be a challenge to keep the outer ring free of any scrapes, and if you’re not going to be purchasing a case for the Moto X, you’re certainly going to risk clocking up some damage.

Finally, the Moto X came through the hammer test rather well, and even with some degree of force applied, was still in perfect working order. Sure, it did leave some slight discoloration on the display, as well as a few marks on the rear panel, but all in all, it’s fair to say that the Moto X is a fairly tough cookie.

Check out the video below, and be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Thanks, David of PhoneBuff for sending this in!

PlayStation 4 Bundle With Killzone: Shadow Fall And PS Camera Leaked Ahead Of Release

With what’s shaping up to be an interesting slog for the next-gen console crown, both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 continue to grapple for those column inches as consumers make up their minds about which one to choose. After a spate of reports pertaining Microsoft’s next big thing, a leak of the PS4′s Killzone: Shadow Fall bundle has emerged. Now, we’ve seen a Killzone bundle already, but this one, which features the new Killzone as well as a PlayStation Camera, briefly appeared on the French Amazon site.

Although the PlayStation 4 will cost considerably less than its fierce rival at point of launch, this is because the PlayStation Camera won’t be bundled as standard, like Kinect will be with the Xbox One. But we’ve seen plenty of bundles already to suggest that more than a few PS4 owners will be investing in a motion sensor for some interactive gaming, and this latest Killzone: Shadow Fall bundle underlines this.

The Amazon listing looks as though it was posted by accident, and only appeared for a short while before being pulled, but luckily, one of our reader managed to grab a screenshot of it before it was removed. As you can see, it lists Killzone: Shadow Fall, along with the PS camera, for 499 Euros, and given that prices for Euros and Dollars tend to remain the same (even if the exchange rate states otherwise), it could well be the case that a Killzone + PS Camera bundle is in the offing for the sub-$500 price tag.

This is certainly the kind of price many gamers could agree to, and although it would be naive to get too excited just now, it’s something for Killzone fans to bear in mind.

The PS4 release date was made official by Sony a few days back, with the North American market seeing a drop by November 15th. Meanwhile, those in Europe will get the console two weeks later on November 29th. With a price tag of $399 in the US, 399 Euros in Europe, and £349 in the UK, one hopes the well-priced Killzone bundle is also in the offing, allowing fans to get hold of a PS Camera on the cheap.

We’ll keep you posted!

Thanks, Damien for the hat tip!

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• How PlayStation 4 Beat The Xbox One On Price

How To Get Stock Android Look On Any Android Device Without Root [VIDEO]

Android is a fantastic mobile operating system, and continues to become one of the biggest forces in mobile software out on the market. As is the nature of Android, everybody seems to want a slice. Whilst this means that we, as consumers, have a large product base to choose from, it also means we get lumbered with a huge amount of manufacturer bloatware. Without a doubt the worst feature of the Samsung Galaxy S4, in my opinion at least, happens to be the user experience that Samsung TouchWiz provides. HTC Sense 5 isn’t any better either, and don’t even get me started on Motorola’s MOTOBLUR from some years back.

But, this happens to be Android. And what’s the best thing about Android? We can change things. There are of course tons and tons of custom ROMs available that can get you true stock Android experience on your device, with the most popular ones now being the ROMs which are ported from Google Play Edition Galaxy S4 and HTC One devices. But of course not everyone likes to go hard way of rooting and unlocking bootloader to play around with these custom ROMs. What not many know is that you can get almost stock Android look and feel even without rooting your device. With only a small selection of apps available from the Google Play Store, you can make almost any device that happens to be running Android, look and feel like it’s running a stock version of Google’s software.

This is a workaround, a very good one at least, but a workaround all the same. Again, if you’re looking for the true stock Android experience, you may want to check out a Nexus device or a Google Play Store Edition flagship phone. But if you’re boasting an Android smartphone apart from the aforementioned ones, then simply follow our guide on how to get the stock Android experience on any device right now – without rooting.

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The apps and software that I used during the making of this video can all be downloaded from Google Play Store:

• Home launcher: Nova Launcher or Apex Launcher 2.0 APK.
• Lock screen: WidgetLocker Lockscreen or Holo Locker.
• Live Wallpapers: Mix it up. Try Nexus 4 Dots Live Wallpaper or Jelly Bean Live Wallpaper.
• Keyboard: Google Keyboard for Android.

If you’re having a bad time with TouchWiz or HTC Sense, simply installing a custom launcher and throwing an icon pack onto your device can just work wonders. It may be as simple as adding a few new transition animations, or slightly more complex where you need to change the home screen structure and icon layout. With these changes, you can do all of that with ease, resulting in improved usability of your device tailored to your usage.

Android is fantastic, I just wonder how long it will be until Samsung or other OEMs take the plunge and stop shipping all of their devices with excessive amounts of bloatware which clearly do more harm than good.

Screenshots Of Android App For Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch Leaked Ahead Of Sept. 4 Event

Samsung is busier than most when it comes to releasing new devices, but while the South Korean company offers dozens of smartphones and tablets, the main topic of conversation right now pertains a supposed smartwatch effort. The Twitter handle @evleaks, famed for getting hold of snaps and information about new products prior to their showcasing, has done it once more with the alleged Galaxy Gear smartwatch, releasing what appears to be a screen capture of the Android interface of the device’s “Galaxy Management” companion app.

Unfortunately, evleaks doesn’t offer a proper glimpse of the wearable tech, something that, with more and more reports offering legitimacy on what was initially perceived as a speculative suggestion, would certainly give us a face to the name. With that said, the leak is still fairly exciting, and given that evleaks tends to offer consistently accurate information, we’re inclined to believe that this will indeed be the Android interface for users pairing their smartphones with Galaxy Gear.

So, what do we have? Well, along with a handy Find My Watch feature allowing you to track the whereabouts of your Galaxy Gear (surely harder to lose than the smartphone itself, I would have thought, but I digress), there’s also an icon for general Settings, Clock, and Help.

In the build-up to the Galaxy Gear, it has been suggested repeatedly that Samsung would not be using the Google Play Store as its main outlet for apps on the product, and the leak sheds even more light on this claim. Because as well as the My Apps icon shown within the UI, there’s also the Samsung Apps section, one that we’d expect it be sufficiently stocked up in time for launch. As the Suwon-based outfit continues to show its software innovation credentials year-in, year-out, it’s little wonder that the company wants a piece of the app store pie, and although the current range sees many downloads already, the Galaxy Gear could be the catalyst for a more meaningful push.

Speculation of the Galaxy Gear retaining only ten hours of battery mightn’t have gone down too well with prospective consumers, but until Samsung comes through with the official announcement, we’ll be reserving judgment, while also hoping that it retains juice a little better than some are projecting.

The Galaxy Gear is expected to be announced at the Samsung Unpacked 2013 event alongside the Galaxy Note 3 on September. Mark your calendars, we’ll bring you the updates as soon as they unfold!

(source: evleaks (Twitter))